How Being A "Bad Golfer" Brought Me Back to the Game

I’m not a good golfer.

And strangely enough, accepting that fact has made me fall back in love with the sport.

The journey to that realisation is one I suspect many of you will relate to. It all started for me the first year I joined a golf club.

Up until that point, golf had been a casual fling, something I dabbled in during summer breaks or squeezed in between university semesters and early work life. But once I committed to a full membership (a big investment at the time), I threw myself into the game. I was determined to become the guy at the club. Low single digits, weekly comp wins, maybe even a shot at scratch… surely just a couple of years away?

Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen.

At first, things looked promising. Within six or seven months of taking the game “seriously,” I’d dipped under an 18 handicap. That milestone felt huge. I’d become what I considered an “average” golfer. From there, I thought it was only a matter of time before I was chasing scratch.

But then... the plateau.

After another year of hovering at the same level, my handicap started creeping back up.

For which I blame two things.

First, I refused to practice. If I had time to spend on golf, I wanted to play, not grind on the range or spend hours in lessons. It turns out the course is a terrible place to work on your game. Who knew?

Second, I started working for Stewart Golf. Golf was no longer just a hobby, it became my job too. And while that sounds like a dream, it also meant I spent less time playing and more time thinking about the game in other ways.

With my performance dropping and my membership up for renewal, I did the unthinkable: I gave up golf. If I couldn’t be good at it, what was the point?

It was a sad, but at the time, strangely satisfying decision. The game had become frustrating. I was angry on the course, grumpy to play with, and nowhere near the player I thought I should be.

Fast forward a couple of years, and my rounds have been few and far between. I’ll occasionally sneak in 9 holes after work with colleagues, but we play what I like to call friendly golf. Land in a divot? Move it. Duff one off the tee? Hit another. We’re not on tour! We’re not escaping from pine straw like Phil at Augusta. So why ruin a good walk with bad lies? (Don’t worry, I’m not handing any cards in for these rounds!). I’m not suggesting removing every challenge – but those little moments that so often ruin your whole round – every now and then, take a breath, reload and get back to enjoying your round.

And you know what? That shift in mindset changed everything.

I’ve made peace with the fact I’ll never be a great golfer. In fact, I don’t even care about being a bad golfer anymore. I just want to enjoy the game. Enjoy the walk. Enjoy the company I’m with. And if I hit the odd pure 7-iron, or scramble a par, even better. But I’ve stopped letting my scorecard define my round.

That attitude was tested and confirmed on a recent trip to Northern Ireland. No, I didn’t play Portrush (though I did find my way into a hospitality tent), but I did tee it up at a few unforgettable spots: Ballycastle and Cairndhu, two very different but equally spectacular courses, with breathtaking views and kind-hearted locals.

Before the trip, I was worried: “What if I play terribly? What if it's a huge waste of my money, just slicing it all over the shop?”

But once out there, surrounded by coastal beauty and good mates, all those worries faded. And wouldn’t you know it, relaxed, pressure-free golf turned into some of the best I’ve played in years.

Coming back from that trip, I feel more motivated than ever to get back out there. Not to chase birdies or record scores, but to explore new courses, make new memories, and soak in the unique experiences these places have to offer (speaking of unique, check out this blog on the unique and very fun, Painswick Golf Club. One of the most undervalued, hidden gem courses I’ve ever experienced - one to have on the list if you're visiting the UK and in the Cotswolds).

At Stewart Golf, we’re fortunate to visit some of the best and most interesting courses around the UK and USA, and I’ve realised it’s time we start making the most of it.

With the right gear in your hand (or following behind you) and a good mindset in your head, golf can be so much more than just the score you shoot.

So, if you’re struggling with your game, or your motivation to get back out there, consider this: being bad can, most definitely, be good.